College roundup: Navy wrestlers break into top 25

NAVY WRESTLING: Following its 22-13 victory over EIWA foe Drexel last Friday in Philadelphia, the Navy wrestling program has broken into the top 25 of the USA Today/National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Poll released on Tuesday afternoon. Ranked for the 123rd time in school history, it’s Navy’s first appearance in the coaches poll since the 2008-09 preseason poll.

Reigning National Champion Penn State stands atop the rankings with a 4-0 dual record and amassed 13 of the 16 first-place votes. The Nittany Lions are joined by Ohio State (4-0), Oklahoma State (3-0), Missouri (8-0) and EIWA member Lehigh (6-1) among the nation’s top five. Also representing the EIWA in the coaches poll is Cornell (1-0) at #13, while Drexel received 14 votes.

Primarily focused on tournament action over the first half of the season, the Mids have wrestled in just three duals to date, beating Delaware Valley twice (46-3 and 49-0), as well as Drexel a week ago. After dropping its first two matches against the Dragons, Navy went on to win seven of the next eight matches to remain unbeaten this season.

The Midshipmen are currently in the midst of final exams and will take a short break for the holidays before returning to the mat where they will open the 2018 calendar year at the Southern Scuffle hosted by Chattanooga on Jan. 1-2.

NAVY WOMEN’S TRACK: Senior captain Brittany Burg and freshman Chelsey Edwards claimed a pair of Patriot League weekly accolades on Tuesday, as announced by the conference office. Burg was tabbed PL Female Track Athlete of the Week, while Edwards was named PL Female Rookie of the Week following their performances in the annual Navy Lid Lifter meet on Dec. 5.

Burg posted a pair of first-place finishes in the first indoor meet of the season, the Navy Lid Lifter, winning the 500-meter dash and the 4x400m relay. The senior captain ran the third leg of the 4x400m relay, joining Edwards, Christina Quigley and Amanda Agana in the relay. The team came from behind to win the event, clocking the second fastest time in program history. In addition, Burg registered an ECAC qualifying time with a first place finish in the 500m dash with a time of 1:14.47.

Edwards had a breakout performance in her first collegiate meet. The plebe posted a pair of first place finishes and clocked an ECAC qualifying time. In the 60m dash, Edwards clocked a 7.75, which was one hundredth of a second shy of placing the freshman in Navy's all-time top 10 in the event.

“I was really excited to hear that Nicole is going to be honored with this prestigious award,” said United States Naval Academy head coach Carin Gabarra, who nominated Mann for the honor. “She was a standout student-athlete at the Naval Academy and I knew early on in coaching her that her future was bright in whatever area she would choose to pursue. Everything that she has accomplished to date is amazing and a true testament to her character, work ethic and drive."

Mann starred at the United States Naval Academy from 1995-1998, building the program into a perennial power with the first four winning seasons in a streak that would last 21 years. Mann, who started 74 of her 75 appearances while contributing one goal and four assists as a defender, helped guide Navy to its first postseason in 1996 and, as a senior, captained Navy through an undefeated Patriot League campaign for the program’s first conference title in 1998.